The Villainess’s Darling [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 14

Ever since He Yue learned about Ning Xiao’s photographic memory, she had stopped making things difficult for her.

Boming Private High School operated on a boarding system, with students receiving one break per month. This particular rest day happened to fall two days before a holiday, meaning students would return from their break and head straight into the monthly exams.

Because of this, many students headed home with backpacks stuffed to the brim with books, terrified that if they played too hard at home, they would return only to fail and be demoted to a lower-tier class.

Yun Can’er was among them. Her frail frame was weighed down by two large bags of books; she looked utterly pitiable.

Seeing this, Ning Xiao felt a surge of protectiveness. She ran over and snatched the bags from the girl’s hands. “Let me help. I’m strong.”

“Thank you.” Yun Can’er pursed her lips, not putting up a fight.

Ning Xiao’s smile was radiant. Her snowy skin was flawless in the sunlight, and her eyes shimmered with warmth. Yun Can’er couldn’t control her racing heart; her ear-tips flushed as she turned her head away, too shy to look at her.

Ning Xiao was always like this flirting as if it were the most natural thing in the world, only to reiterate that they were just “friends.” It left Yun Can’er’s heart in constant turmoil, unsure of how to face her. If she ignored Ning Xiao, she couldn’t bear to lose her tenderness; but if she stayed close. she wouldn’t be able to guard her own heart.

By the time they reached the main gate of Boming, the parking area was already occupied by various luxury cars. As soon as Ning Xiao stepped out, a chauffeur in a tailcoat approached. He gave a slight bow. “Eldest Miss, the Master and Mistress know it’s a rest day, so they’ve taken the day off to wait for you at home.”

This is the Ning family driver. “Ning Xiao” calls him Uncle Ling, System 13579 reminded her. In the novel, Yun Can’er and Shang Shaotan were the protagonists, so minor characters like a driver were never mentioned. Usually, in these situations, the system would provide Ning Xiao with the necessary background info.

“Uncle Ling, this is my classmate Yun Can’er. Please take her home first,” Ning Xiao said.

“Of course, Miss. Miss Yun, please follow me.” Uncle Ling led the way to the Ning family’s luxury car.

Yun Can’er froze and reached for Ning Xiao’s hand. “Ning Xiao, I can just take the bus home. There’s no need to go out of your way.”

Ning Xiao handed the heavy bags to Uncle Ling and pressed a slender finger against Yun Can’er’s pale lips. “No refusing.”

Seeing a trace of panic in Yun Can’er’s dark eyes, Ning Xiao sighed and smiled. “Do you think I’m doing this for free? The exams are the day after tomorrow, and I haven’t finished reviewing. I’m coming to your house tomorrow so you can tutor me. Sending you home now is just a way for Uncle Ling to learn the route.”

“You. you’re coming to my house?” The panic in Yun Can’er’s eyes faded, replaced by a shy, watery glint. She released Ning Xiao’s hand and nervously fidgeted with the hem of her school skirt.

“Tomorrow I’ll go to your house to study, and the day after, you’ll come to mine.”

At school, Yun Can’er was left alone because of her top grades—aside from Shang Shaotan and the original Ning Xiao, no one went out of their way to find trouble. But at home, she was a “poor little thing” enslaved by her parents and two older sisters.

Yun Can’er’s sisters were twins who were slightly prettier than average, named Yun Baiwei and Yun Yuyan. All three attended Boming, and the twins had only managed to transfer there because of Yun Can’er’s academic scholarship. Despite this, they looked down on her, ordered her around at home, mocked her for being “ugly,” and treated her like a stranger at school. On holidays, the twins would take a taxi home, while Yun Can’er, having no money, was forced to take the bus.

Her parents, Yun Yi and Yao Xiangying, were completely indifferent, acting as though Yun Can’er’s mistreatment was only natural. After all, she was “ugly” and didn’t look like a member of the Yun family.

Boming was located at the southern tip of the city, while Yun Can’er lived in a residential complex at the northernmost end. It took Uncle Ling an hour to drop her off. If she had taken the bus, she would have had to transfer and take a circuitous route, likely taking two or three hours. By then, it would have been dark.

As Yun Can’er stepped out of the car, Ning Xiao rolled down the window and waved. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning at nine.”

After another hour, Ning Xiao arrived at the Ning villa on the west side of the city. Located halfway up a mountain, it was one of the city’s top luxury residences. It took another ten minutes just to drive from the main gate to the front door.

The moment Ning Xiao stepped out, she was pulled into a hug by her mother. “My darling Xiao Xiao, if you hadn’t come back soon, your father and I would have turned into statues from waiting.”

The Nings had only one daughter, and Ning Xiao was the little princess of the household. She had been pampered since birth; her only “unattainable” desire was Shang Shaotan.

Ning Xiao felt the original author was truly unhinged. The “villainous second female lead” had a winning hand and played it miserably, while the female lead started with nothing and only got a good hand at the end. Only the male lead remained superior throughout, playing everyone for fools. She suspected the author was a misogynist, and the evidence was conclusive.

The next morning, Ning Xiao woke up in her two-meter-wide princess bed. After washing up, she went to her walk-in closet to change into a high-end custom dress. Downstairs, her father was reading the newspaper while her mother was in the kitchen supervising the chef. Her mother was convinced Ning Xiao wasn’t used to the school cafeteria and that her face had grown smaller from weight loss. Ning Xiao checked the mirror several times and confirmed her mother was mistaken; her face was exactly the same size as when she first arrived in this world.

After a refined, nutritious breakfast, Ning Xiao told her parents, “Mom, Dad, I’m going to a classmate’s house today to study. I’ll be back in the evening.”

Her parents exchanged glances. Since she didn’t use a name, they assumed they didn’t know this classmate.

“Studying? Which classmate? Is this a new friend you made at school?” her mother asked gently. She knew her daughter was playful and proud, never having cared about grades before. Why the sudden interest in studying?

Ning Xiao replied, “Her name is Yun Can’er. She’s the top student in our grade. As for the tutoring, I transferred to Class 1, and I have to rank in the top fifty to stay there.”

Her mother immediately looked distressed. “Even if you don’t make the top fifty, Mommy can make sure you stay in Class 1. There’s no need to force yourself.”

Her father nodded in agreement. “Mhm.”

Ning Xiao: With a pair of infinitely indulgent parents like this, it was no wonder the original Ning Xiao turned into a villainess.

Ning Xiao had Yun Can’er’s home phone number. She left at eight and arrived at the complex by nine. Sitting in the back seat, she pulled out her phone to call, but Uncle Ling turned around. “Miss, Miss Yun is walking over now.”

Ning Xiao looked out the window in surprise. Yun Can’er was running toward the gate, her face flushed red. Ning Xiao pushed the door open and hurried to support the panting girl. She frowned slightly. “I was going to call you. If you gave me the address, I could have just driven straight in.”

Yun Can’er caught her breath and said, “It’s your first time here; I was afraid you wouldn’t find it.”

Ning Xiao rubbed Yun Can’er’s back until her breathing leveled out, and then the two walked into the complex. Yun Can’er lived on the top floor of Building No. 3. High-rise buildings facing the street couldn’t block out the noise, but they were cheaper.

They took the elevator up, and Yun Can’er unlocked the door. “My parents took my two sisters out to play. I’m the only one home.”

Speaking of her parents taking only her sisters out while leaving her behind, Yun Can’er offered a small, thin smile. “They probably won’t be back until late, so no one will disturb us while I tutor you.”

What is there to be happy about in that? Ning Xiao felt a pang of heartache and gently rubbed Yun Can’er’s soft hair.

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